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The loss of one or more teeth due to trauma, decay, or disease can be devastating. One of the treatments available that restores dentition to a more natural condition is with dental implants. The final result allows the patient to enjoy many benefits:

Eat all the foods you love – your new teeth are fixed; they will allow you to chew naturally without fear of movement or shifting.

Speak clearly – Word pronunciation is the result of the tongue and teeth working together to form sounds. Missing teeth can lead to speech problems.

Laugh and smile with self-confidence – Missing teeth can be embarrassing; your smile makeover will look so natural no one will be able to tell your teeth are not your own.

Permanent and fixed – Your cosmetic restoration will be cemented to the implant providing you with a permanent solution to tooth loss. You will never have to be without your teeth.

Easy care – You will brush and floss your new teeth just as you would care for all your natural teeth. Nothing special is required.

The dental implant process will commence with a consultation to discuss overall health. A very thorough dental exam follows that will include x-rays to determine bone strength in the jaw where the implant is to be placed.

Lack of bone does not automatically exclude candidacy for a dental implant; there are procedures available to augment bone, if needed.

The dental implant itself is a small screw like device that is surgically embedded in gum tissue where tooth loss has occurred. It is likely to be made from titanium, a metal known to resist rejection; and bone fuses to titanium in a process known as osseointegration. It is this process that allows the implant to become a permanent part of your dental anatomy providing a solid base for the cosmetic restoration it will eventually support.

Your dentist will monitor your progress and when the implant area is healed, the restoration will be ready to cement in place. It will be tried in for fit and appearance; and must be determined to be fully functional before it will be permanently affixed. When ready an abutment will be attached to the implant; the restoration will be cemented to the abutment.

Your dental implant will provide a smile makeover that comes with life long, permanent benefits. To learn more about your tooth replacement options, contact the office of Dr. Mark Massaro at 918-779-3399.